Rights Groups Ask UNSC for Sanctions and Consequences On Sudan

On the one year anniversary of the genocide in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan, Act for Sudan, a bipartisan, interfaith alliance of American and Sudanese grassroots advocacy organizations delivered to the UN Security Council a public letter signed by 89 human rights organization from around the world.

The letter (full text below) was signed by 89 organizations and 12 notable individuals from countries including, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition to Act for Sudan, organizational signatories include Aegis Trust, American Jewish World Service, the Enough Project, United to End Genocide, the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust, and the Nuba Relief, Rehabilitation, and Development Organization, among many others.

The letter urges the United Nations Security Council to “follow through with severe sanctions and other powerful consequences if the Government of Sudan does not allow immediate access for humanitarian aid” as outlined in a tri-partite proposal by the United Nations, African Union, and League of Arab States which is intended to pave the way for unfettered international access to deliver humanitarian aid. The tripartite proposal was referenced in Security Council Resolution 2046, which was adopted by the Security Council on May 2, 2012.

Further, the letter recommends a deadline of June 14, 2012, which is the third scheduled review by the UNSC of implementation of Security Council Resolution 2046.

Nubians hide in caves to avoid Bashir's bombers

According to the letter, UNSC Resolution 2046 “strongly urges Suda to accept the tripartite proposal to permit humanitarian access to the affected populations in the two areas.” The SPLM-N has signed the proposal and has repeatedly agreed to the cessation of hostilities on the basis of humanitarian grounds; however, the Government of Sudan continues to bomb and attack the areas and to refuse access for humanitarian aid. UNSC Resolution states that if the parties do not comply with the Resolution, the UNSC agrees “to take appropriate additional measures under Article 41 of the Charter as necessary.”

“We recognize the tenuous nature of negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan and all that is at stake. However, the people of the Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State must not be sacrificed in order to appease the Government of Sudan,” the letter states.

FULL TEXT OF LETTER:

June 6, 2012

Dear Members of the United Nations Security Council,

We write because of our dire concern for the people of the Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State who face imminent death by violence and starvation orchestrated by the Government of Sudan.

While we welcome United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046, which has succeeded in resuming negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan and has facilitated the removal of troops from Abyei, the ongoing violence and lack of humanitarian aid in the two areas has not been addressed.

UNSC Resolution 2046 “strongly urges Sudan and the SPLM-N to accept the tripartite proposal…to permit humanitarian access to the affected populations in the two areas.” The SPLM-N has signed the proposal and has repeatedly agreed to the cessation of hostilities on the basis of humanitarian grounds; however, the Government of Sudan continues to bomb and attack the areas and to refuse access for humanitarian aid.

UNSC Resolution states that if the parties do not comply with the Resolution, the UNSC agrees “to take appropriate additional measures under Article 41 of the Charter as necessary.”

We recognize the tenuous nature of negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan and all that is at stake. However, the people of the Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State must not be sacrificed in order to appease the Government of Sudan. Furthermore, the Government of Sudan’s blatant and longstanding disregard and abuse of its citizens clearly defines the nature of that government and calls into question its sincerity in pursuing and abiding by any outcome of negotiations between the two countries.

Rather than allowing the Government of Sudan to hold both countries and the international community hostage, we urge the United Nations Security Council to follow through with severe sanctions and other powerful consequences if the Government of Sudan does not allow immediate access for humanitarian aid as outlined in the tri-partite proposal. We recommend a deadline of June 14, 2012, which is the third scheduled review by the UNSC of implementation of the Resolution.

For one year, the international community has had the opportunity to address the crises in Nuba Mountains/Southern Kordofan and the Blue Nile State. People are starving to death and dying violent deaths because the choice was made not to intervene. This approach cannot continue if the United Nations hopes to preserve its credibility. Resolution 2046 is a step in the right direction. For the sake of peace and stability in Sudan, South Sudan and the region, please do not back down now.

We are an organisation of people dedicated to the propagation and the dissemination of news and information relating to, and of importance to African Peoples worldwide. Our main objective is to provide an online portal where people of African decent; African heritage and friends of Africa can liaise and exchange knowledge and information.